Dust-guard for bearings.



A. M. POWERS.

U GUARD FOR RINGS."

lemon rim) .31, 1914.

INVENTOR By Attorneys,

Patented July 11, 1916.

' America,

UNITE I) s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER m. rowEEs, oEn w YORK, N. Y.

DUST-GUARD FOR BEARINGS.

To all whom it may concern:

" Be it known that I, ALEXANDER M.

. enable the oil or grease within the housing to be situated at a high level,

To this end my invention consists 1n a dust excludin rin which is formed of tough materiahaving a sllght res1l1ency such as rawhide, and which surrounds and is at all times in contact with the shaft, belng supported in fixed'position in relation thereto. Also said ring when in position is inclined relative to the shaft, so that as the dust excluder wears in time, its resiliency will maintain it at all times in contact with the shaft surface.

My invention likewise has for its ob ect to provide an improved constructlon of retaining means for said dust uard WlllCh may be sold as a unit and wil effectively.

perform its function when produced in a series of graduated sizes.

A desirable form in which my invention may be employed is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1 illustrates a cross-section on the line 1-1, Fig. 2, of my invention applied to a conventional form of anti-friction bearing. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on the line 22, Fig. 1, looking toward .the left, the housing being omitted and part of the flange on the 1 holder being broken away. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 33, Fig. 1, looking to the-right, part of the flange on the cap being broken away. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate various forms of dust excluders, Fig. 5 being on a reduced scale.

My invention is illustrated as applied to an anti-friction bearing employing balls, and it may well be used with this type, or

equally well with other types of antl-friction bearings, such as roller bearings. In

Specification of Letters Patent.

invention relates to dust guards for.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed October 31, 1914. Serial No. 869,636.

the type illustrated one bearing member is composed of the shaft A and the other is the housing B, between which are the balls C. Interposed between these members, so as V to effectually exclude dirt and dust fromthe anti-friction devices, is my improved dust guard which is composed of a ring D which is composed of tough material which will not readily wear in use and is also possessed of suflicient resiliency to enable it at all times to remain in contact with the shaft A and to exert slight pressure against the same,

whereby the wear of the parts in use is compensated for, and the dust excluder D is at all times maintained in operative contact with the bearing member A. Although I have referred to the dust excluder D as a ring, it is not necessarily formed as a continuous piece as in Fig. 4, as it may equally well be split, as at (Z in Fig. 5. In use in the form shown in Fig. 5 the tongues d} will overlap when the dust excluder is inserted in the holder, and the edges of the shoulders 0Z will abut therein so as to be maintained in the holder without overlapping which would produce an objectionable double y thickness thereof.

The dust 'excluder Dis mounted in its holder-so that its inner edge 03 which con- .tacts with the bearing element A is inclined forwardly from .its rear or supporting portion (P, so that the said inner edgeis in a different plane than the supportmg, edge. This may well be accomplished by flaring the said dust excluder, and if the dust excluder is formed of rawhide, which material I prefer, this may be treated in the proper manner known to those skilled in such art to produce a permanent set or flare therein for this purpose. Thereby it will be perceived that the slight but sufficient amount of resiliency which rawhide possesses added to the inclined position of the same with reference to the axis .of the bearing member A will tend to efliciently hold the inner edge of said dust excluder in contact with the shaft, and enable it at all times to perform its function as stated. Another feature of my invention consists in the means whereby the said dust excluder is easily inserted in position in the housing. B, and is efliciently -maintained therein. For this purpose I wardly from said sleeve, and at its outer,-

firmly swaged or pressed against the dust.

. excluder, so that the same shall be firmly 2 sleeve 0, but is at a slight angle thereto, and

held in position. To enable .the flange to be conveniently turned over, I may slot the same as at e.

Upon the outer part of the housing B is located a cap F. Upon this is formed'an annular flange f which is adapted, to encircle the bearing member A and fit with slight clearance thereto. From the rear wall of the flange f a sleeve f projects, which is threaded for engagement with the sleeve e of the holder. The housing B is centrally apertured atb, and this aperture is machined to fit the sleeve 7'. It will be observed that the flange e is not perpendicular to the this accomplishes two objects. In the first place, it enablesthe holder E to be by its threaded engagement with the cap F drawn ,tightly up against the machined shoulder on the inner edge of the aperture 6, thereby locking the two threaded members by a common frictional contact with the housing B and preventing rotation of same, and in the next place, the channel 6 is thereby enabled to support the dust excluder D so that the sanie shall project at an incline toward the bearing member A and not perpendicular thereto. By means of the foregoing connection between the holder and the inner wall of the housing, I am enabled to maintain the oil in the housing at a higher level. than usual, which is highly desirable.

' The dust excluder D and its holder E, and the cap F, are usually sold as a unit.

1 They can be easily made to standard sizes to fit corresponding sizes of cold rolled steel shafts. Shafts of intermediate sizes which are frequently found, may also readily be fitted by reason of the fact that the flange f may have varying degrees of clearance from its shaft and such intermediate sizes properly fitted with the dust excluder-s byfpro viding dust excluders of inner diameters corresponding to the shaft and locating them in the holders. In actual practice a number of intermediate sizes of shafts may be fitted with standard sizes of dust guards by the simple expedient of providing du.-.t excluders of the desired size and locating them in standard sizes of holders and caps.

The wall of the housing B is liable to have varying thicknesses, and-in order to compensate therefor the cap F and holder E are threaded throughout agreater portion of their length than is actually required. The I rear surface of the Wall of the housing B is usually rough, and the angular disposition of the flange e of the holder E accomplishes the desirable object of keeping its finished face of the said wall.

surface out. of contact with the rough sur- The invention is illustrated as being used in connection withfla horizontal shaft, but

the shaft may be eitherhorizontal or vertical, both being frequently met with, and

both equally requiring dust guards. In the case of a vertical shaft, the dust excluder D, by reason 'of its contact withv the shaft 'close, to provide frictional engagement,

which, because of the large contact between the parts, will tend to prevent rotation of son of the contact of the dust excluder with the shaft, and this is true whether the shaft 1 is a rotating element and the holder E fixed,

ing, and which in cooperation with the inclined face-of the holder E when the two are screwed together, tends to grip against the wall of the housing and hold the parts against movement relative thereto. The cap F and holder E are preferably formed by 'me of iron, as II'found this material well adapted for. this .purpose. The dust excluder D is preferably formed of non-metallic material,'and my preferred material is rawhide.

It will be perceived from the foregoing that the important feature of my invention consists in the provision of the inclineddust excluder which is formed of tough material having a slight amount of resiliency, for whichpurpose rawhide is prefererd by me as the best material vnow known to me, but to which material Ido notdesire to limit myself, as other materials may beused within the limits of the appended claims. The particular means illustrated by me for retaining the said dust excluder are the best to the employment of'these particular means as these means may be modified and other and equivalent devices substituted therefor within the limits of the appended claims, nor is my invention limited to use in connection with the particular type of bearing illustrated, as it may beequa'lly useful with other bearings.

the same relative to the -housing B, by rea WhatI claim is:- 1. Ashaft, a housing revoluble relative thereto and through which the shaft. ex-

its resiliency it is adapte tends,- bearings between the shaft and housing, a dust excluder comprising an annular holder secured in saidhousing and having ring retaining means inclined relative to J said shaft, a ring of non-metallic tough material having resiliency, mounted in said holder and adapted to have its inneredge bontact with the shaft, said ring inclined.

from-its holder to its point of contact with the shaft, and having a tendency to sprmg toward said shaft whereby and by reason of tact with said shaft and compensate for wear. I

2. A shaft, a houslng revoluble relative "thereto and through which the shaft extends, bearings between the shaft and housing, and a dust excluder comprising an annular holder secured in said housing and having ring retaining means inclined relative to said shaft, a mug of rawhide, mounted in said holder and adapted to have its inner edge contact with the shaft, said ring inclined from its holder to its point of contact with the shaft, and having a tendency to spring toward said shaft whereby and by reason of its resiliency it is adapted to remain in contact with said shaft and com'- A pensate for wear.

3. In a dust guard for bearings, a housing for the outer bearing members provided with a central aperture for the inner bearing member, an annular cap adapted to embrace the inner bearing member arid having a sleeve adapted to extend within said aperture, a holder within the housing having a sleeve-adapted to extend outward through said aperture and threaded to said ca sleeve, an outwardly extending flange on sai holder,

having itsedge turned inwardly forming a channel, and a dust excluding rlng mounted in said channel and adapted to bear against the inner bearing member.

4. In a dust guard for bearings, a housing for the outer bearing members provided with a central aperture for the inner'bearing member, an annular cap adapted to embrace the inner bearing memberand having a sleeve adapted to extend within said aperture, a holder within the housing having 1 a sleeveadapted to extend outward through said aperture and threaded to said cap sleeve, an outwardly extending flange on said holder, having its edge turned inwardly forming a channel, and a dust excluding ring constructed of. non-metallic tough material having resiliency, mounted in said channel and inclined toward the inner bearing member and adapted to contact therewith.

5. In a dust guard for bearings, a housing for the outer bearing members provided 1 ture, a holder within the housing having a to remain in conadapted to engage said cap sleeve, and an material having resiliency, mounted in said edge turned over forming a' channel, and a with a central aperture for the inner bearing member, an annular cap adapted to embrace the inner bearing member and having a sleeve. adapted to extend within said apersleeveadapted to extend outward through said aperture and threaded to said cap clined inwardly, whereby its inner or hearing edge is in a different plane than its outeror supporting edge.

7. In a dust guard, a holder for a dust excluder comprising an annular sheet metal frame having an inwardly openin inclined channel at the outside of said rame for said dust excluder formed by turning over the outer edge of said frame, and a dust exeluding ring of rawhide, mounted in said channel and flaring or inclined inwardly, whereby its inner or bearing edge is in a dfl'erent plane than its outer or supporting e ge. a

8. In a dust guard, an annular cap havin a perforated inner flange and a threaded sleeve, a holder having a threaded sleeve adapted to engage said cap sleeve and an outwardly ro ected flange, having its outer edge turned over, forming a channel, and a dust excluder mounted in said channel.

9. In a dust guard, an annular cap having a perforated inner flange and a threaded sleeve, a holder having a threaded sleeve outwardly pro ected flange, having its outer edge turne over forming a channel, and a dust excluding ring of non-metallic tough channel, and flaring or inclined inwardly, whereby itsinner or bearing edge is ina dflerent plane than its outer or supporting e ge.

10. In a dust guard, an. annular cap hav ing a perforated inner flange and a threaded sleeve, a holder having a threaded, sleeve adapted to engage said cap sleeve and an outwardly projected flange, having its outer dust excluding ring of rawhide, mounted in said channel and flaring. or inclined inwardly, whereby its inner or bearing edge is in a different plane than its outer or supporting 13o edge.

11. In a dust guard..an annnlal caphav- In witness whereof, I have hereunto ing a perforated innenflange and a threaded signed myname in the presence of two sub- 10 sleeve, a holder havmg a threaded sleeve ,seribing witnesseg adapted to en age said cap sleeve, and an' 5 outwardly'pro ected flange, having its outer r A F edge turned over forming a ehannel, and ,Witnesees': having slots in said turned-over edge, and LHENBY' TUBE, a dust exclude mounted in said channel. 1 .Fnnn'WH. 

